—Taco time: Chef Rick Bayless recently launched a new menu at his Michelin-starred and James Beard Award-winning Chicago restaurant Topolobampo—with a taco theme.
According to a press release, “The inspiration for this new menu stems from a now-legendary Mexico City taco crawl the Topolo team embarked on in early 2024, devoting 12 hours to tracking down 13 off-the-tourist-track taquerias and eating 35 of their specialties.” The tasting menu changes every eight weeks, so this deep dive into tacos will be available through mid-September.
The current menu consists of items such as El Zarandeado (wood-grilled walleye, Alaskan king crab salpicón, sea beans, grilled nopales and tomatillo-avocado salsa, with heirloom blue corn tortillas); El Guisado (wild-harvested chanterelle mushrooms, local squash blossoms, black truffle, squash blossom-green chile crema, braised chicharron and Bayless Garden sorrel, with nopal tortillas); and El Dorado (crispy chocolate taco, champurrado semifreddo filling, salted chocolate caramel, cocoa nib crema, three kinds of cherries and pecans), among others.
—High Noon: Remember when Noon Whistle Brewing sold shots of cicada-infused Malort back in May? It turns out how it was done was a no-no.
According to several media outlets, including ABC 7 Chicago, the Illinois Liquor Control Commission confirmed the business was cited and fined for selling the shots, as state law requires that infusions be mixed and stored on the licensed premises. And there are requirements on how they must be labeled and stored.
—Bakery break-in: The Lincoln Park bakery Verzenay, 2507 N. Lincoln Ave., suffered a break-in on Aug. 11.
On Verzenay’s Instagram account, owner Arshiya Farheen posted, “A masked person stole cash and fled the scene. The entire incident was caught on cameras and people even saw this person drive away on the [D]ivvy. … It was heartbreaking to explain things to our 4 yr old and saddening that some people work tirelessly for their livelihood while others believe it’s just fine to take it away.”
Farheen later posted, “We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who reached out and expressed their support. The outpouring of kindness and encouragement on social media and beyond has been truly overwhelming.”
According to ABC 7 Chicago, the owners said they have replaced the broken door.
—Sweet relief: And speaking of bakeries, the Gold Coast spot Hendrickx Belgian Bread Crafter/Bakery, 100 E. Walton St., warrants this week’s recommendation from me.
Every time I walk in there, I find something different yet inviting. There are scores of different types of desserts, including macarons, sable cookies, tarts and cakes, among other items. However, there are also breads (such as challah and Belgian brioche, although I still miss the white-chocolate variety) and various croissants, sandwiches and salads that will satisfy just about everyone. (Plus, there are gluten-free items as well.) Do yourself a favor and visit this bakery.
—Mia, myself and I: Scott Harris Hospitality announced that Mia Francesca has opened in Lincolnwood, at 4436 W. Touhy Ave.
The menu features simple, rustic dishes. Diners can indulge in signature dishes such as pollo arrosto alla romana, salmon alla fresca, linguine all’arlecchino, carpaccio alla Francesca and calamari fritti. There’s also the antipasti Stagionali, a chef’s daily seasonal antipasti inspiration; additionally, popular classics like focaccia di Recco and roasted beet salad are available. A notable new feature at the Lincolnwood location is the Bubbles Bar, offering a unique brunch experience every Saturday and Sunday.
—Paying it forward: In honor of National Make a Difference in a Child’s Life Month, seven restaurants throughout Chicago teamed to make a positive impact by pledging to donate a portion of their sales to Greater Chicago Food Depository throughout July.
It turned out that the restaurants—Adobo Grill, Amerikas, Cesar’s, Marina’s Bistro, Mirella’s Tavern, Tatas Tacos and Vinci—raised a total of $6,939 for the depository, equaling 20,817 meals. To learn more about the depository, visit this link.
—Wine and dine: Gaijin, 950 W. Lake St., is hosting an event with sake and snacks on Wed., Aug. 21, starting at 5 p.m.
Bar Manager Stella Miller will take an educational deep dive into the world of nigori sake, known for its creamy texture and rich flavors. She will guide guests through an immersive tasting experience with four distinct styles of nigori sake and explore the history of the style and production details—and there will be complimentary snacks.
Gaijin by Chef Paul Virant is Chicago’s first okonomiyaki restaurant, offering both Hiroshima and Osaka styles of the savory Japanese pancake. A self-described gaijin, or “outsider” in Japanese, Virant aims to embrace this perspective and honor traditional preparations and techniques, as well as his well-known passion for pickling and preserving.
Tickets are $45 each; RSVP here.
—Dig in: It’ll soon be time for Pepsi Dig In Day.
The full Pepsi Dig In Day Block Party is coming to Chicago’s DuSable Black History Museum, 740 E. 56th Pl., on Aug. 24 at 1-8 p.m. to celebrate and spotlight local Black-owned restaurants and businesses. Hip-hop duo Clipse will headline a lineup of musicians and DJs including Jack Freeman, Ade, Karrahbooo, Reese Laflare, Terry Hunter, Sean Mac, Vic Lloyd and host King Flexxa. Plus, Chicago designer Don C will attend to unveil and celebrate his limited-edition Pepsi x Just Don collection.
Visitors can enjoy FREE food samples from Black-owned restaurants such as Uncle Remus, Lexington Betty Smokehouse, Can’t Believe It’s Not Meat, S2 City Grill, and CHKN Box while shopping businesses like Justice of the Pies, Moore Poppin, Destiny’s Water Icee + Ice Cream and Vienna Beef Chicago Hot Dogs, among others.
For more info about Pepsi Dig In, which supports Black-owned restaurants, visit here; for more about Pepsi Dig In Day, visit here.
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